Left to right: Anaisabel Pérez (editor), Martha Muñoz (OPT project manager), Gabriel La Gona, Jowita Blak, Hannah Brady (editor)

First of all, I'd like to congratulate you both on winning the One Planet Travel competition. Would you like to introduce yourselves to our users?
Sure, I am Gabriel La Gona and this is my partner Jowita Blak. I am originally from Italy and Jowita from Poland. At the moment we are both working and living together in London. I've been in London for 15 years now, Jowita for two.

How did you find about One Planet Travel?
By coincidence, I think. I work in the travel industry and often visit travel exhibitions, filling in online marketing forms and chatting to representatives of the industry. I may have come across the guide at a stand at one of these conventions. I also surf the net frequently, both at home and at work, so I may have come across your site when browsing.

How did you find out about our competition?
Probably by browsing like I normally do. To be honest I can't really remember, it's been quite a while ago now, and it's been very exciting! I think I filled it in just randomly, I had nothing to lose.

How did you react when you found out you'd won?
To be honest, I was quite sceptical at first. You always get these sort of emails telling you that you'd won the lottery or something, but you'd then had to pay to claim the prize or ring a premium rate number. I decided to call the company using the details on the winner's email, and when they confirmed it was true, I was so excited! The next day I was telling everyone around the office! I just couldn't believe it.

We can imagine! So how was your stay in the hotel?
It was great. The food was excellent, the hotel as a whole was clean and tidy, and the staff were always smiling.
    The rooms?
Our room was very nice. We got one facing the swimming pool, and the sound of the water fountain was very relaxing at night. We had a lovely view of the sea, which was great for watching the beautiful sunset.
    The restaurants?
We were very impressed, the buffet food was exceptional. We didn't try any of the other restaurants in the hotel because we were so full from the buffet! We've also been to other restaurants in Tenerife, and we're still looking for a paella restaurant...
    Other facilities/activities?
Jowita enjoyed the gym, and we also enjoyed the Bar Yaiza, although the DJ was a bit crazy! We also rented a car and toured the island, visiting The Teide mountain, La Masca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Teresitas.

So you enjoyed your holiday, then! Did you like Tenerife as a whole?
Definitely, it has exceeded all our expections. The people have been really great, as we said before, always smiling. We'd like to visit the other islands as well, if we have time. We've been to another island before, although we can't remember which one.

Sherry lovers in Spain are in for treat this September. Jerez de la Frontera, the historic city and sherry capital of Spain, is currently holding its traditional Autumn Festival, celebrating this delicious drink. This festival will be taking place throughout September, exhibiting the region's finest sherry.
It is a celebration of all things related to the city and its products. A jam-packed programme of events are offered, with activities related to the city's gastronomy and wines as well as flamenco performances and the famous Andalucian horse parades.
The festival opens with the “treading of the grapes” and a spectacular fireworks display. At night there are many concerts, musical performances and flamenco displays, as well as wine tasting and Jerez cooking demonstrations. There's something for the children, too, with puppet shows, magic and theatre displays. More highlights include bull runs, horseback parades and a special gala hosted by the Royal School of Equestrian Art.
Another way to enjoy the festival is to see the region's contemporary musicians in the Alameda Vieja, or even the “Tapajerez” competition, in which the local bars and restaurants compete for the title, promoting the region's tapas.

For more information, visit www.turismojerez.com

Read more about Jerez de la Frontera at www.oneplanettravel.com

For two whole weeks, from September 22nd until October 7th, the world-famous Oktoberfest will once again take centre stage in Munich, Germany. Not only is it the world's largest beer festival, it is also the world's largest funfair, with at least six million visitors every year.

For those of you who don't know, Oktoberfest began in 1810 as a commemoration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, after whom the festival's main ground, Theresienweise, is named.

A fine mix of cultural diversity (or at least different types of the jolly brew!) and tradition, millions of litres of beer are poured during these two weeks, washing down over six million bratwursts (not all by the same person, of course!). A mountain of other Bavarian delicacies are consumed during the festival, in addition to many other wonderful events and games.

The festival starts with the “Entrance of the Landlords” and a visit from the current Mayor of Munich, who taps a keg of beer and declares “O'zapft is” (“it's tapped” in Bavarian dialect). The landlords of the local Bierkneipen arrive in cars specially adorned with flowers for the occasion, bringing with them barrels of the good stuff. A traditional parade also takes place, featuring men in Lederhosen and riflemen.

All this and more, along with traditional Bavarian music and food, make Oktoberfest a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Read more about Munich at www.oneplanettravel.com

Over the last eight weeks, people across Britain have enjoyed a wonderful series of classical concerts and other events associated with the largest classical music festival in the world, all brought to the stage by the very best performers. But alas, all good things have to come to an end. Not to worry though, because this Saturday will see the traditional season-ending finalé, the Last Night of the Proms 2007.
Held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Last Night is arguably one of the most classical music concerts in the world. Not only are tickets for the concert highly sought-after (and often sold out), an audience of millions across the globe tune in on the TV or radio. For those lucky enough to get tickets, it is a fine opportunity to see the British at their patriotic best; many “Prommers” arrive at the venue dressed in Union Jack T-shirts, proudly waving the British flag when the traditional piece Rule Britannia is performed.

The first half of the concert is usually relaxed, beginning with such “winding-down” classics as Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 (Land of Hope and Glory) and Sir Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs. The second half is, following tradition, the most patriotic not only in this particular concert but in the series as a whole, with the performance of the aforementioned Rule Britannia. The concert concludes with the traditional speechs of the Last Night conductor, who usually discusses the year's main themes and thanks the audience and musicians for their support, before ending with the British national anthem, to the delight of the audience. This year's conductor will be Jiri Belohlavek of the Czech Republic.
 
Those not planning to attend can watch the first half live on BBC2 and the second half on BBC1. Radio listeners can tune in on BBC Radio 3.

All together now: Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves...

For more information about the Proms, visit www.bbc.co.uk/proms

Read more about London at www.oneplanettravel.com

While you are thinking about planning your next trip, we at One Planet Travel are thinking about YOU.

For this reason we have created a new service: One Planet Travel Customised Tours. These tours are put together by One Planet Travel and personalised for every customer.

How does this work? It's very simple, all you have to do is send us an email stating your chosen destination with your departure dates and length of stay, and we will put together a customised package that is right for you. Just sit back, relax and we'll do the rest. We will organise your Customised Tour COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.

Do not wait a second longer! Send your email to contents@oneplanettravel.com specifying the details of your trip as well as your One Planet Travel registration number (the number that you received on registering). If you are not registered to One Planet Travel, you can do so here, free of charge.

Emails should be received at least two weeks before departure. As soon as we receive your email, our representatives will get back to you by email and begin to piece your programme together, giving you more time to relax and enjoy the holiday of a lifetime.

Spain is gaining quite a reputation for its festivals, with famous traditions such as the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and the "Burial of the Sardine" in Madrid, where spectactors dress up and run down the street chasing a papier-mache sardine. Now it´s time for the "Tomatina", a pulpy mess of fun and festivities taking place in the quiet town of Buñol, Valencia. This "tomato war" certainly ranks as one of the best in Spain; in fact, the population of Buñol will quadruple during this time, literally painting the town a gooey shade of red.
This unique tradition began in 1945, supposedly resulting from a food fight in a restaurant in which passers-by decided to join. The fight was apparently so enjoyable that it was repeated the following year, and on every year that followed, eventually becoming an annual phenomenon as well as one of the most well-known events in the world. In fact, it eventually gained so much interest that the international media arrive in Buñol every year to provide global coverage. In 2002, the event won the Festival of International Tourist Interest award.
The Tomatina begins at 10am, signalled by the firing of water cannons. A hour of madness then follows, with both sides hammering each other with overripe tomatoes (usually squashed a little before thrown to prevent injury). The mayhem is stopped with the water cannons exactly an hour later, and the annual clean-up begins with the hosing down of the streets and the victims.
The festival is also represents the Buñol Fair and the festivals of the local saints Sant Lluis Bertran and Charca de Déu dels Desemparats (Mother of the God of the Defenceless), which will take place from August 22nd until September 1.

Read more at www.oneplanettravel.com

(Photo by Aaron Corey)

The most visited music and arts festival in Finland will return to Helsinki at the end of August, turning the Finnish capital into an enormous cultural centre. From August 20th to September 5th, every visitor will be able to find a show that satisfies their musical palate with an exciting programme offering concerts, art exhibitions, circus acts and other entertainment throughout the city, all day long.

For two whole weeks Helsinki will be in effervescence, putting the city on the international cultural map. Approximately thirty buildings (theatres, cultural centres, churches, galleries and even restaurants) will host a series of artistic events and shows, attracting a crowd of more than 300,000 every year.

From 1968 until now, the festival has retained a sense of openness and eclecticism that is clearly reflected in the variety in its programme. The festival's classical music concerts are worth noting, as well as the way Helsinki honours artists not only in Finland but all over the world.

This festival has provided a fantastic day out all year, and this year will be no exception.

For more information on Helsinki visit www.oneplanettravel.com

“La Semana Grande/Aste Nagusia” (The Big Week) will take place this week in Bilbao, the capital of the Basque Country. The festival will kick off the traditional way this Friday with the txupinazo, a loud firecracker that is set off before the bulls are released.
In collaboration with the Ayuntamiento de Bilbao (Bilbao Town Hall), it has traditionally been the Comparsas Bilbaínas (Bilbao Groups) who have injected the flavour into the txosna (grand fiesta). Far from being a religious festival, the celebrations are based heavily on heritage, maintaining an air of patriotics, society and culture.
“The Big Week” has been officially celebrated since 1978, yet August has always been a month of circus acts, fairs and bullfighting in the region. The only year in which the festival did not take place was 1983, when a series of floods that devastated the Basque Country forced its cancellation.

The main symbol of the festival is “Marijaia”, a folk legend of the Basque Country; the official song since 1997, with the lyrics of Edorta Jiménez and the musical composition of Kepa Junkera, is “Marijaia dator” (Marijaia is coming). The txupinazo, which is the main event, takes place with the reading of the pregón (speech) and the launching of the txupin (firecracker). Every year a pregonero (the one who reads the pregón) is chosen, usually a local celebrity; the txupinero (a woman belonging to the local groups) will launch the firecracker. This year the chosen ones are Kepa Junkera (pregonero) and Larraitz Cisneros (txupinero).

 The festival offers a range of activities for all the family, from local cookery classes to competitions, from children's theatre to sports. After a day of bullfights, religious ceremonies and concerts, the fun is rounded off with spectacular fireworks displays and parties, with the final show taking place on the 9th day, saying goodbye to “Marijaia”.

Read more about Bilbao at www.oneplanettravel.com

"Mi Buenos Aires querido,
cuando yo te vuelva a ver,
no habra más penas ni olvido.

El farolito de la calle en que nací,
fue el centinela de mis promesas de amor,
bajo su inquieta yo la vi."

For those who don't know, this is a well-known song that talks about the protagonist's beloved Buenos Aires, the host of this years World Tango Championships. Many people come to Argentina simply to enjoy this wonderful extravaganza. After all, Buenos Aires is without a doubt the world's tango capital.
This dance, which was traditionally practised by few people, is now a favourite not only in Argentina but also all over the world. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of dance classes available as well as milongas, traditional dance events where spectators can see some fine tangos and folk dances, which have a special place in the heart and soul of the public.
The fifth World Tango Championship will take place from August 16th until the 27th, and will be organised by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Buenos Aires. The competing couples will represent their respective country or city, which will include countries from every continent as well as Argentina. All entrants must be over 18 years of age and registration is free.
The competition will be judged in two categories:

Salon Tango
The intention of this category is to promote the dance as a popular social practice at an international level.

Stage Tango
The aim of this category focuses mainly on the visual aspects of the dance, as well as promoting new values at an international level. Organisers of this category emphasise the importance of developing style and traditional skills for artistic exhibition.